[EX-99.CERT]

                                                                  Exhibit (a)(2)

                           SECTION 302 CERTIFICATIONS

         I, Gary E. Wendlandt, Chairman of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc.,
certify that:

         1.       I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of MainStay VP
Series Fund, Inc.;

         2.       Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make
the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements
were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

         3.       Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other
financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material
respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets,
and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement
of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
report;

         4.       The registrant's other certifying officer and I are
responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures
(as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the
registrant and have:

         (a)    Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such
                disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our
                supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the
                registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made
                known to us by others within those entities, particularly during
                the period in which this report is being prepared;

         (b)    Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure
                controls and procedures and presented in this report our
                conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls
                and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing
                date of this report based on such evaluation; and

         (c)    Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal
                control over financial reporting that occurred during the
                registrant's most recent fiscal half-year (the registrant's
                second fiscal half-year in the case of an annual report) that
                has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
                affect, the registrant's internal control over financial
                reporting; and

         5.       The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed
to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board
of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

         (a)    All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the
                design or operation of internal control over financial reporting
                which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's
                ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial
                information; and

         (b)    Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or
                other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's
                internal control over financial reporting.

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                                              By:   /s/ Gary E. Wendlandt
                                                    ----------------------
                                                    Gary E. Wendlandt
                                                    Chairman

                                              Date: February 27, 2004

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                           SECTION 302 CERTIFICATIONS

         I, Patrick J. Farrell, Treasurer and Chief Financial and Accounting
Officer of MainStay VP Series Fund, Inc., certify that:

         1.       I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of MainStay VP
Series Fund, Inc.;

         2.       Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make
the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements
were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

         3.       Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other
financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material
respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets,
and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement
of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
report;

         4.       The registrant's other certifying officer and I are
responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures
(as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the
registrant and have:

         (a)    Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such
                disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our
                supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the
                registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made
                known to us by others within those entities, particularly during
                the period in which this report is being prepared;

         (b)    Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure
                controls and procedures and presented in this report our
                conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls
                and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing
                date of this report based on such evaluation; and

         (c)    Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal
                control over financial reporting that occurred during the
                registrant's most recent fiscal half-year (the registrant's
                second fiscal half-year in the case of an annual report) that
                has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
                affect, the registrant's internal control over financial
                reporting; and

         5.       The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed
to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board
of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

         (a)    All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the
                design or operation of internal control over financial reporting
                which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's
                ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial
                information; and

         (b)    Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or
                other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's
                internal control over financial reporting.

                                       19


                                    By:   /s/ Patrick J. Farrell
                                          ----------------------
                                          Patrick J. Farrell
                                          Treasurer and
                                          Chief Financial and Accounting Officer

                                    Date: February 27, 2004

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